Description
Classic Red Velvet Cake features a moist, tender crumb with a subtle cocoa flavor and stunning red hue, layered with rich and creamy homemade cream cheese frosting. Perfect for celebrations or any time you want a vibrant, delicious cake that’s both visually striking and irresistibly flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tbsp red food coloring (liquid or gel)
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, or line them with parchment paper circles to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder to ensure an even distribution and remove any lumps.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, white vinegar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and uniformly combined.
- Make the Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two or three batches. Gently fold and mix until just combined to keep the cake tender and avoid overmixing.
- Bake the Layers: Evenly divide the batter among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to wire racks and cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and crumbs.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar, beating continuously, then mix in vanilla extract until creamy and spreadable.
- Assemble the Cake: Place one cake layer on your serving plate, spread a generous layer of frosting on top. Repeat with remaining layers. Finish by frosting the outside and smoothing it for a clean, professional look or create rustic swirls as desired.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for a vibrant red color without thinning the batter.
- Accurately measure flour to avoid a dense cake texture.
- Chill cake layers before frosting to reduce the risk of crumbs in your frosting.
- Applying a crumb coat before the final frosting layer gives a sleek, professional finish.
- Garnish with white chocolate shavings, cake crumbs, or fresh berries for added elegance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: red velvet cake, classic red velvet, cream cheese frosting, layered cake, celebration cake, homemade cake, dessert, baking
